Manifolding device



March 8, 1938. J. S.'FLE.MING 2,110,594.

MANIFOLDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1929 v nvmvron. Md

MW A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MANIFOLDING DEVICE John Stuart Fleming, Niagara Falls, N. Y., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Gilman Fanfold Corporation, a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to improvements in manifolding devices, and more particularly in some of its aspects, it relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of transfer or carbon sheets for advantageous employment in the transfer of inscriptions to a plurality of continuous length record strips or Webs such as may be used in manifolding work in manifolding machines as in the well-known autographic register, tyepwriting machines, billing machines, etc. The invention embodies an improved form of unitary transfer-sheet assembly adapted to be positioned in assembled relation in the machine with the continuous record strips.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a transfer sheet, or transfer sheet assembly, of the class mentioned, and being of improved form whereby especially long life is attained,

while maintaining its ability to transfer inscriptions which are clear, legible and otherwise satisfactory.

Another object is to provide an improved transfer sheet arrangement wherein different and less depleted areas of the sheets may be readily brought into transfer relation with definite predetermined parts of the record strips or forms therein, replacing areas that have become worn or depleted by usage, thereby making it possible to utilize a very large extent of the total transfer surface, thus to prolong-the life of the transfer sheets. In other words, an object is to provide an improved manifolding assembly whereby relative longitudinal adjustments may be made in a definite and certain manner between the record strips and transfer sheets, so as to distribute for use in a sure and methodical manner the impression transmitting areas", thus to utilize as much of said areas as possible,

A further object is to provide in a manifolding device of the class mentioned an improved arrangement including index means cooperating between the transfer sheets and the record strips or webs, to indicate relative shifting movement therebetween from one transfer position to another, whereby it can readily be ascertained when new transfer areas are brought into position to replace depleted portions thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a manifolding device of the class mentioned, an improved arrangement including weakened severance lines in the superposed transfer sheets, whereby, when the sheets and record strips are relatively shifted in line-spacing direction forwardly extending or depleted portions of the transfer sheets may be readily severed along the weakened lines thereof.

Other objects-of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connection with this description.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a manifolding assembly embodying the invention, and

Fig. 2 is an elevation on a larger scale of the improved carbon pack, parts being torn away to improve the disclosure.

In billing and in similar classes of manifolding work as carried out in typewriting and billing machines, or in other types of manifolding machines, the writing is not ordinarily done in solid blocks or sections of the record strips or work webs. As an example of this, it will be readily understood that the heading of the bill has separated areas for the reception of the date, for the name and address, and often for other data, while the body of the bill is usually somewhat separated from these areas. Also, the first lines of the body will ordinarily be used more than the later lines, because the bills vary in length. After a considerable number of bills have been written with the transfer sheets in one certain position relative to thebill forms, the areas mentioned will become depleted and unsuitablefor further use, while other areas of the transfer sheets will be used not at all, or perhaps very little. It is, therefore, very desirable to relatively shift the carbon sheets and record strips to bring these unused portions of the former into writing position. This invention provides a very simple arrangement, always available for use and simple in operation, whereby this desirable result can be accomplished with accuracy and certainty. A larger percentage of the total carbon area is thus available for use, the life of the carbon sheets is prolonged, and economies effected.

Referring to the drawing for a detailed disclosure of the invention, an illustrative but preferred embodiment thereof is shown as utilized in connection with a typewriting machine of the rotary platen type having a rotatable platen 5 which may be mounted in any preferred or known manner upon the machine.

It may be mounted on a platen carriage of a well-known type which is fed in a step-by-step motion to effect line-spacing. The platen may be rotatably mounted upon the carriageby means of a shaft 6 preferably having a knob whereby the platen may be turned by hand in either direction to effect feedingmovement of the work webs in line-spacing direction.

It will be understood that the showing of the typewriting machine in the drawing is diagrammatical to a large extent and is intended to be web in order to impress a character thereon. It

will be understood that the platen may be manually rotated backwardly or forwardly so as to adjust the paper carried thereby in line spacing direction relatively to the line of contact of the typ bar. Also, as above suggested, the letter spacing may be efiected by movement of the.

platen carriage. As shown, a-web supporting plate or table 9 may be carried by the machine for supporting the work webs as they approach the platen.

The work webs or record strips 10 as shown are of the long continuous traveling form, each having a series of appropriate blank forms ii for accommodating the particular transaction being recorded. These work webs are arranged in relatively superposed relation and the blank forms of the respective superposed webs will be arranged so'as to align and register with each other in manifoldingrelation. JEach of these traveler webs is preferably provided with weakened transverse lines I! positioned between the successive blank forms and arranged to align in superposed relation with each other when the blank forms are in alignment. All of the work webs may therefore,'be severed together at a single operation along the aligned weakened lines. The work webs may be led forwardly to the platen from a suitable supply source such, for example, as

a. zigzag folded supply pack which may be housed or supported in any desired manner by .or adjacent to the machine.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a transfer sheet arrangement whereby the transfer sheets are retained in transfer relation with the work webs, and at the same time they may be relatively shifted with reference to the blank forms of the webs 'so as to bring different portions of the transfer sheets into manifolding' position with reference to certain particular parts of the blank forms. To this end an assemblage l3 of transfer sheets is provided, a form of which is shown in Figure 2, wherein the sheets are at-' cylindrical platen to conform freely thereto. This permits the transfer sheets and work webs to lie in intimate contact with each other so as to permit entryof full and satisfactory impressions on all of the work webs.

This transfer sheet unit or carbon block l3 may contain as many transfer sheets 14 as desired for the particular work in hand, these sheets being arranged in relatively superposed or overlapping relation and provided on one side thereof with carbon or similar transfer material l5.

Each carbon sheet H! has a portion extending laterally at opposite sides beyond the active transfer portions thereof, which may be in the form of extensions or tabs I6 preferably positioned near the following or rear end I! of the carbon block. By means of these extensions, the transfer sheets are attached together to form the carbon unit. The attachments I8 for this purpose may be of any. preferred form, but should be flexible longitudinally in order that the carbon unit may pass freely over and conform to the cylindrical platen surface. As shown, this attachment may be formed by stitching of textile threads, which is found quite satisfactory for this purpose, or the sheets may be pasted together, or both stitching and pasting may be employed.

The carbon sheets are preferably free from each other except for the attachments 18, whereby they may be laterally separated slightly to receive the work webs, Being thus free, the forward and rear ends of the'carbon sheets may be moved apart slightly so as to provide passageways into which the work webs may be threaded. At the rear end IT, for example, the adjacent carbon sheets are unattached to each other inside ,the attachments 18, thus permitting free passage may, if desired, be reinforced as, for example, by

folding each carbon sheet backwardly upon itself, thus providing a double thickness of material at the edges. I Y

As clearly seen in Fig. 1, the work webs may thus be threaded, respectively, between the adjacent carbon sheets and positioned in overlapping manifolding relation therewith. In this manner a carbon sheet may be positioned between each relatively overlying work web and the next succeeding underlying work web, so that inscriptions or impressions may be simultaneously made on all of the work webs. It will be seen, further- 'more, that the work webs will thus be threaded between the attachments I 8 which are so laterally spaced as to .lie beyond the edges of the work webs. These attachments may, as shown, be somewhat elongated, thus providing, in efiect a guiding sleeve through which each work web passes, thus tending to retain the carbon sheets in correct position with relation to the webs.

At one side the carbon pack I3 is provided with a checking leaf 20 which may be appropriately attached to the pack. In the embodiment shown, this checking leaf 2!! forms an extension of the carbon sheet l4. The leaf 20 may be of different dimensions than the carbon sheets H, but it is preferably of the same size as the latter in both length and breadth, as shown. It is preferably of the same or similarquality of thin paper and preferably, as shown, forms an integral extension of the adjacent carbon sheet. ,This checking sheet may, if'desired, be provided on its inner face with transfer material IE, or it may be unprovided with such material. Sometimes it may be found desirable to insert an additional detached record sheet underneath this checking sheet during typing, in which case the inscriptions will be transferred thereto by the transler material carried by said checking sheet.

At their forward ends, each of the transfer sheets i4 is formedwith a cutaway-portion or notch 2i, the notches in all of the sheets being aligned and in registering relation'with each other. When the forward ends of the work web and transfer sheets are aligned as shown in Fig. 1, said webs will be exposed through the notches 2| which thus form grasping openings through which all the webs may be simultaneously grasped and pulled forwardly independently of the transfer sheets, orotherwise manipulated. In cases where the checking sheet extends forwardly as far as the carbon sheets it, it may also be provided with a notch 2i aligned with the notches 2! of the carbon sets and utilized for a similar purpose.

One or more of the transfer sheets if is provided with one or a plurality of transversely extending lines 22 forming marksjor indices cooperating with certain marks or lines of the work web as, for example, with the transverse perforated lines it. By means of these cooperating lines; the relative longitudinal positioning between the work web and carbon sets is indicated, and it can thus be determined what particular portions of the transfer areas are brought into transfer alignment with certain parts of the, blank forms of the Work web. In the embodiment shown, each of said transfer sheets is provided with longitudinally spaced lines 22 for the purpose mentioned; also another longitudinally spaced line 23 may, in some cases, be provided. All of these lines 22 and 23 extend transversely of the transfer sheets.

The lines 22 are preferably formed by weak ening the material of the transfer sheets so as to form transverse severance lines upon which the sheets may readily be severed as by exerting a tearing action thereon, or by pulling across a tion during the writing operation. Thus narrow,

elongated, aligned portions of the paper may be offset slightly from the general plane, so asto partially separate the fibres without actually removing any of the paper." Therefore, none of closed. This forms two sets of weakened lines for the transfer pack, and the lines of each set are in relatively superposed arrangement and aligned with each other, whereby all the sheets may be simultaneously severed on either set of lines and the narrow strips or sheet sections formed by the excess ends of the transfer .sheets thus removed. Certain of theseverance or index lines, as lines 22, may, as shown, by formed with laterally deflected or bowed portions 22'. These deviating portions 22, as shown in Fig. 2, are

/ formed in each line of the superposed sets so that allportions of the lines of each set are in super posed registry, thus facilitating group severance of the transfer sheet. Also, these deflected parts 22', deviate inwardly from a straight lineat parts thereof in longitudinal alignment with the notches 2i. Therefore, when the transfer sheets are severed, notches similar to the notches 2i and for a similar purpose, will be formed at the new forward ends' of the sheets.

The weakened lines 23 in the several transfer sheets may be straight as shown but they are relatively superposed and aligned, as are the lines 22 described. They are also preferably of the same type of construction as above outlined,

so as to avoid any impairment to the transferring operation. Either one or more sets of lines 22 or one or more sets of lines 23 may be used alone, or, both sets 22 and 23 may be employed together in the same carbon pack in a manner similar to that shown in the drawing. Any of ,may, if desired, be made slightly greater than the forms it of the work web. Thus, when the forward ends of the transfer sheets are severed the transfer material is removed or rendered ineffective, and the ability to transfer inscription is in no way impaired while at the same time the paper is sufficiently weakened along these lines I is preferable to attach the checking blade 24 to permit ready severance as mentioned. It will be understood that the structure of the transverse weakened lines 23 will also be similar in this respect.

Each of the superposed transfer sheets I4- is provided with as many longitudinallyl spaced weakened lines 22 as desired, two such lines being shown in each sheet in the embodiment disalong the weakened lines and the transfer sheets are 'adjusted'forwardly relative to the work web, there may be sufiicient length of transfer surface to cover the entire length of the blank forms.

In order to check the forward advance of the carbon pack when the work webs are forwardly fed, a check member ftmay be carried by the machine in any convenient manner. member in the forni of machine illustrated is carried by the platen carriage and is positioned at the ,delivery side of the platen beyond the gripping surface thereof. This check member, as shown, is preferably in the form of a thin, flexible, metallic blade, extending longitudinally of theplaten, preferably formed at its lower or checking edge, thinner than the body of the blade, so as to engage in the fold or point of attachment between the checking leaf 20 and the adjacent carbon sheet 14. The checking blade, therefore, occupies very little space.

A retaining bar 25 iscarried in any convenient manner by the platen carriage, extending sub-.

stantially parallel to the checking blade 24 and spaced slightly from the latter. This retaining bar is adapted to retain the outermost recordstrip l0 and also the checking sheet 20 closely alongside the checking blade 24. In practice, it

to the retaining bar 25, the latter thus providing a support'for the former. I

The operation of the improved manifoldingdevice will now be clear from the above detailed disclosure and may be summarized as follows:-

As mentioned, the carbon pack I3 is assembled with the work webs III by threading the latter be- This check tween adjacent carbon sheets, one web being positioned between each pair of adjacent carbon sheets so that each underlying web is positioned for receiving transfer inscriptions when the original record is written upon the top web. The original work web will overlie the others and the transfer sheets, whilethe bottom web may be positioned outside of the lowermost transfer sheet, as clearly appears in Figure 1. The intermediate work webs, however, will be threaded between respective adjacent carbon sheets, and between the attachments I8 thereof, whereby the carbon pack I3 is retained in position with reference to the work webs and may be adjusted to different positions thereon by sliding the carbon pack along the webs, or by moving the webs with relation to the carbon pack.

When thus assembled, with the forward ends of the work webs and transfer sheets substantially aligned with each other, the assembly may be passed from the rear between the platen and the pressure rollers I. Forward rotation of the platen will now carry the assembled work webs and carbon sheets into writing position upon the platen. When the free ends of the paper reach the checking blade 24, the outer or original work web, together with the checking sheet 20, will be passed between the checking blade 26 and the retaining bar 25, while the remaining sheets and webs will be positioned upon the opposite side of the checking blade.

Typing to fill in the desired spaces of the blank forms will now be effected and the line spacing, as the typing progresses, will be accomplished by turning the platen forwardly in the usual manner,,thus carrying the assembled webs and carbon pack forwardly as a unit. When the writing is completed the platen will be turned forwardly to bring the carbon pack substantially to the position as shown in Figure 1. In this position the carbon sheets are entirely freed and released from the grip of the platen, permitting free relative, longitudinal movement between the carbon sheets and work webs.

At this point, also, as shown in Fig. 1, the checking blade 24 will engage the loop or turn at the rear end of the checking sheet 20 to check further advance of the carbon pack. This checking is sufiicient to arrest further advance of the carbon pack under frictional engagement with the advancing work webs, but a positive stop is not provided due to the nature of the engagement between the checking blade and the checking leaf.

' Continued forward turning of the platen will now advance the webs relatively to the carbon pack, or .the webs may be grasped through the grasping notches 2| and pulled forwardly, while the carbon pack remains stationary in its checked position. The Work webs are. thus moved forwardly far enough to wholl'y expose the blank forms thereof beyond the ends of the carbon sheets, thus bringing" fresh blank forms into manifolding relation with the carbon sheets.

The inscribed webs may now be severed in any desired manner along the weakened lines I2 thereof. Reverse rotation of the platen will now move the assembled work webs and carbon sheets rearwardly from the position shown in Figure 1 until the desired parts of the blank forms are again positioned on the writing line. Typing is then continued to fill in the new blank forms.

After a considerable number of blank forms have thusbeen typed, as just described, certain parts of the transfer sheets will become depleted through'repeated use thereof, while other areas will be less' used or may not be used at all, as will be readily understood. For example, certain parts of the heading of bill forms, such as the name and address, and also the first lines of the body of the bill form, will be used more than other parts of the forms, and the corresponding or registering parts of the transfer sheets will thus become depleted sooner than other parts.

It is desirable, therefore, to bring fresh parts of the transfer sheets into position to replace the depleted parts. This may be done with the arrangement herein disclosed in a very simple manner without entirely replacing the carbon pack by a fresh one. In order to accomplish this, the work webs [0, when moved forwardly relatively to the carbon sheets H, as above described, may be adjusted so that the weakened lines l2 thereof come into alignment with the outer set of weakened lines 22 of the carbonsheets. The webs and sheets will be retained in this relative position and the lines l2 and 22 will thus function as index marks or indices to indicate the relative positioning. When thus positioned it will be seen that different portions of the carbon sheets will be brought into transfer relation with the work webs to replace the depleted portions of the carbon sheets. These depleted portions of the carbon sheets will then be relatively moved forwardly beyond the respective typing areas and thus not brought into use in the manifolding-operaflon. The result is that clear, legible transfer impressions will be made and economies effected in the use of the carbon sheets.

When the weakened index lines l2 are brought into registry with the index lines 22, as just described, the work webs may then be severed along the lines l2, thus leaving the ends of the carbon sheets projecting slightly beyond the adjacent ends of the work webs. These projecting ends may then be severed along the weakened lines 22, if desired, thus again evening the ends of the webs and carbon sheets; or time may be saved by severing both the outer ends of the carbon sheets and the inscribed work webs together at the same time when the lines l2 and 22 are brought into alignment with each other as described. The result is the same in either case and the fresh or unused portions of the carbon sheets will be brought into relative position to replace the depleted portions in the typing operation.

When the weakened lines 22 are provided with the deviating or bowed portions 22', severance of the ends of the transfer sheets, as described, does not interfere with the exposing of the work webs for grasping independently of the carbon sheets, as new notches or cut-away portions will thus be formed. Also, it will be understood that the second set of weakened lines 22 may be manipulated in exactly the same manner as the first set, thus enabling additional unused areas of the carbon sheets to be brought into transfer positions. .Also, it will be understood that the sets of weakened lines 23 may be manipulated in asimilar manner. The line 23 being straight may be more readily severed at one operation with the work webs, it being understood that the lines 23 will be brought into registry with the lines l2 in a manner similar to that above described.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown inthe accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A manifolding assembly including in com-' bination, a plurality of continuous relatively superposed traveler record strips each having transverse severance lines longitudinally spaced at sheet length intervals therealong so as to provide a plurality of form sheets arranged end to end and each having a blank form, a plurality of transfer sheets interleaved in transfer relation with said record strips and being relatively short as compared with said record strips so as to be capable of assuming difierent transfer positions along the record strips and to transfer inscriptions to the different form sheets thereof, attaching means positioned outside of the record strips and attaching said transfer sheets together to form a transfer .unit of attached transfer leaves, which is relatively longitudinally adjustable into different transfer positions along the record strips, at least one transverse weakened severance lineon each of said transfer sheets extending substantially from edge to edge thereof, said transfer sheet severance lines being substantially aligned depthwise of the assembly and spaced short distances rearwardly from the forward edges of the sheets to form narrow severable transfer strips or sections at the forward end portions of the transfer sheets, each of said transfer sheets being longer than the forms. of the recordstrip form sheets and of suflicient length to cover the forms for transfer inscription thereto after severance of the said narrow severable transfer sections therefrom, said transfer sheets having selective grip notches opening through their forward edges and aligned with each other depthwise of the assembly, through which the adjacent edge portions of the record strips may be selectively gripped, and each of said transfer sheet severance. lines, at parts thereof longitudinally aligned with said selective grip notches, having parts rearwardly deflected lonrear edges of said selective grip notches so as to I 4 form, upon severance of the transfer sheets along the weakened severance lines thereof, selective grip notches positioned similarly to said first mentioned grip notches, through which the adjacent forward edge portions of the record strips may be selectively gripped.

2. A manifolding device including in combination, a plurality of relatively superposed transfer sheets having attachments with each other so as to form a transfer pack, said pack being flexible throughout its length, said attachments of the transfer sheets being spaced apart laterally of the pack providing one or more eways between the sheets to permit threading of one or more record strips between the transfer sheets in transfer relation therewith, the advance end portions of said transfer sheets having selective grip notches opening through the forward sheet edges and aligned depthwise of the pack, through which the forward end portions of the record strips may be selectively gripped, at least one transverse weakened severance line on each of said transfer sheets extending substantially from edge to edge thereof, said severance lines being substantially aligned depthwise of the transfer pack and spaced short distances rearwardly from the forwardedges of the sheets so as to form narrow severable transfer sections at the forward end portion of the pack, and each of said severance lines, at parts thereof longitudinally aligned with said selective grip notches, having a part. thereof rearwardly deflected longitudinally of the pack and rearwardly spaced from the rearward extremities of said notches so as to form, upon severance along said weakened severance lines, selective grip notches positioned similarly to said first mentioned grip notches, through which the adjacent forward edge portions of the record strips may be selectively gripped.

' JOHN STUART FLEMING. 

